Ochanja Traders Embark On Massive intra Market Road Construction
By Uzo Ugwunze
The traders at Ochanja Central Market, Onitsha, Anambra State, have embarked on a #6.5 milliion road construction in the market.
Briefing newsmen, the caretaker committee chairman of the market, Chief Bonaventure Muo, said that the construction of the road became necessary sequel to the increased dust pollution in the market which is hazardous to the health of the traders and their customers.
The chairman who is called 'Omekaodinma,' by his admirers, added, "This Christmas time when traders and their customers have gone for the Christmas celebration, we resolved to embark on the construction because the market is free now. The market is empty but if we do the construction when the market is in session it will be disturbance to both the traders and customers.
"We sourced the money we are using, about #6.5 million, from our little weekly savings as executive of the market to do these for the traders as sacrifice to have good environment for trading. You know the high cost of things now especially building materials.
"This is gate three road, it is about 500 metres length, we did the second road (German floor), about this time last year also. The first gate road was done by the previous market leadership on 'Choose your project' basis, that was in the time of former Gov. Willie Obiano and because of shoddy job done to the first gate, it is wearing away now.
"We are not interested in what the opposition is saying to distract our attention from giving the traders an enabling environment for trading. We have to do good roads for the traders because we remain in the market come rain, come sunshine.
"Like the opposition said, it will make you to sit up if it criticizes well and not with grudges to disorganize and cause crises in the market. What we are doing in the market has not been done by any leadership of the market," he boasted.
Also on the one year in office of the President General (PG), Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association, ASMATA, Chief Humphrey Anuna, he said that his leadership has helped to increase the revenue base of the markets in the state and restored lost glory of traders.
He commended Gov. Chukwuma Soludo for appointing men of Sterling quality into leadership, adding that from the burial ceremony of late Pa Simeon Soludo, Governor's father, the governor showed that the rich and poor were all human beings and as such should not discriminate.
"From the burial you see that not much was spent on the deceased, no posters, burial uniforms except for the bereaved family. The governor doesn't want one to go borrowing because he wants to bury a loved one", he said.
Contributing, the personal assistant to the chairman, Mr. Chukwudi Okafor said, "We have finished the second gate and we are now doing the third gate road.
Opposition is good if they criticize well it will help us to sit up. In the market here the opposition is just to disorganize the market. We welcome opposition but what sacks them is good work. Now that they have seen what we are doing, they have to support us," he said.
The Secretary of the market, Mr. Obinna Maduka, reiterated the resolve of the leadership to ensure provision of enabling environment for the traders, adding that the caretaker committee's achievements have surpassed those of the past regimes.
In his contribution, the market Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Ikechukwu Nnalue, said that the chairman is contempted with his wealth and commended him for carrying everybody along.
"We as executive are doing marvelous work in the market and there is nowhere that this kind of thing has been done except in our market where there are good roads now. We commend the chairman and plead to the governor to extend his time to enable him to do more for the traders," he pleaded.
*Uzo is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State.
One more photo below.
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